Northern California Wildfire Risk: What Residents Should Know

Wildfire activity continues across parts of Northern California in September, with firefighters responding to several active incidents and monitoring conditions that can change quickly.

CAL FIRE’s current incident information lists active fires in Northern California, including the Lucas Fire in Lake and Mendocino counties, which began September 10, as well as the Bunny Fire in Siskiyou County. CAL FIRE’s seasonal outlook also indicates that significant fire potential is expected to remain normal to above normal in parts of Northern California through September.

What This Means for Local Residents

Wildfires can affect communities through evacuations, road closures, smoke, and changes to outdoor activities. Residents in or near wildfire-prone areas should stay informed and be prepared to act quickly if local officials issue an evacuation warning or order.

Stay Prepared

Residents can take several steps before an emergency develops:

• Know your evacuation zone and routes and identify more than one way to leave your area.
• Prepare a go-bag with medications, important documents, food, water, and other essentials.
• Sign up for local emergency alerts through your county or local emergency-management agency.
• Keep your vehicle ready in case an evacuation becomes necessary.
• Check road closures and travel conditions before heading into areas affected by fire.
• Follow evacuation instructions immediately when directed by local officials.

Smoke and Air Quality

Wildfire smoke can travel far beyond the immediate fire area and may affect air quality in communities that are not directly threatened by flames.

Residents should check current air-quality conditions and limit outdoor exposure when smoke levels become unhealthy. People who are particularly sensitive to smoke should pay close attention to official health and air-quality advisories.

Evacuation Information

Evacuation orders and warnings are issued by local authorities and can change as fire conditions develop. CAL FIRE’s incident pages provide current information for incidents under its jurisdiction, while county emergency-management agencies provide location-specific evacuation information.

For example, CAL FIRE’s current information for the Plaskett Fire in Monterey County continues to list evacuation information for portions of the incident area, demonstrating why residents should check their specific evacuation zone rather than relying on general statewide information.

Reliable Resources

• CAL FIRE — active fire incidents, maps, and fire information
• Ready California — wildfire and emergency preparedness guidance
• National Weather Service Sacramento — weather forecasts and fire-weather information
• Local County Emergency Management — evacuation orders, warnings, and shelter information
• California Department of Public Health / local air-quality agencies — wildfire smoke information

Wildfire conditions can change rapidly. Always follow instructions from local emergency officials and rely on official sources for current evacuation, road-closure, and fire information.